Metering means for transferring containers and the like in timed relation to the movement of a container receiving means

ABSTRACT

A metering means for transferring containers and the like from a conveyor or other delivery means in predetermined timed relation to a moving container receiving means, the metering means comprising a pivotally mounted elongated arm having a container engaging finger at one end and a container contacting pad at the other, the arm being movable from a first position in which the finger engages the leading end of a first container advancing along the delivery means and arrests it forward movement to a second position in which the finger is retracted to free the first container for transfer to the container receiving means and the pad engages the next succeeding container moving along the delivery means to temporarily arrest its forward movement and thereby prevent more than one container from being released upon movement of the arm from its first to its second position, the arm being movable from one position to the other in timed relation to the movement of the container receiving means.

United States Patent 1,275,581 8/1918 Macomber 2,405,947 8/ 1 946 Gettig 2,769,520 11/1956 Davidson et al.

Inventors Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee METERING MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING CONTAINERS AND THE LIKE IN TIMED RELATION TO THE MOVEMENT OF A CONTAINER RECEIVING MEANS 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl Int. Cl Field of Search References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-W. Scott Carson Attorney-Melville, Strasser, Foster and Hoffman ABSTRACT: A metering means for transferring containers and the like from a conveyor or other delivery means in predetermined timed relation to a moving container receiving means, the metering means comprising a pivotally mounted elongated arm having a container engaging finger at one end and a container contacting pad at the other, the arm being movable from a first position in which the finger engages the leading end of a first container advancing along the delivery means and arrests its forward movement to a second position in .which the finger is retracted to free the first container for transfer to the container receiving means and the pad engages the next succeeding container moving along the delivery means to temporarily arrest its forward movement and thereby prevent more than one container from being released upon movement of the arm from its first to its second position, the arm being movable from one position to the other in timed relation to the movement of the container receiving means.

METERING MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING CONTAINERS AND THE LIKE IN TIMED RELATION TO THE MOVEMENT OF A CONTAINER RECEIVING MEANS This is a division of copending application Ser. No. 701,782,

filed Jan. 30, 1968, now US. Pat. No. 3,491,508 and entitled ALTERNATE STATION CONTAINER FILLING AND SEALING SYSTEM.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The said copending application discloses an integrated packaging system in which a single closing and sealing mechanism and a single feeding mechanism are utilized to concurrently erect, close and seal one end of the containers, as wellraSclose and seal the opposite ends of such containers after they have been filled with product. In other words,the containers are twice passed through the feeding mechanism and the closing and sealing mechanism. During the first pass, the containers are erected and closed and sealed at one end, whereupon they are transferred to a filling means which introduces the contents into the containers, whereupon the filled containers are returned to the feeding mechanism for return to the closing and sealing mechanism. I

Since such mechanism is intended to operate continuously at relatively high speeds, timing-becomes extremely important and means must be provided to insure that the containers will be present at the proper place at the proper time.

The instant invention relates to such timing mechanism, and more particularly to mechanism by means of which a supply of containers advancing at random along a delivery conveyor can be individually metered and transferred to a container receiving means which is continuously moving in timed relation to other operating components of the system.

RESUME OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, the containers are ad vanced along a delivery conveyor the discharge end of which is positioned to present the containers sequentially to a continuously moving container receiving means, which itself may comprise a timing conveyor of the type wherein one or more endless chains carrying container engaging lugs are arranged to engage the trailing walls of the containers and advance them at a predetermined rate of speed. In order to insure that a container will be present to be engaged by each succeeding lug or set of lugs, a metering means is provided at the discharge end of the delivery conveyor to meter the cartons from the delivery conveyor to the timing conveyor. Alternatively, such metering means may be utilized to time the release of the containers from the delivery conveyor so that they may be deposited upon, or engaged by, a travelling carriage or other continuously moving container conveying means.

In accordance with the invention, the metering means comprises a pivoted arm having a finger at its leading end, the arm being mounted at the discharge end of the delivery conveyor and arranged to move from a first position wherein the finger engages and arrests the advancing movement of the leading container advancing along the delivery conveyor, the arm being movable to a second position in which the finger is retraced to free the first container for discharge from the delivery conveyor. At the same time, the pivoted arm :is provided with a container contacting pad at its trailing end, the arrangement being such that when the arm is pivoted to its second position, the pad will engage the next succeeding container moving along the delivery conveyor, thereby temporarily arresting itsmovements and preventing two containers from being discharged at the same time. When the arm returns to its first position, the container engaged by the pad will be released and hence free to move forward until its leading end engages the finger which acts as a stop.

Movement of the arm from one position to the other may be controlled by asolenoid, pneumatic cylinder, or other similar actuating means. Such actuating means is operated in timed relation to the movement of the container receiving means. In

a preferred embodiment of the invention, the arm actuating tainer receiving means. Thus, where the container receiving means comprises a timing conveyor having an endless chain mounting spaced apart container engaging lugs, the .cam may be conveniently mounted on a sprocket shaft for the chain, the cam being configured to actuate the switch at the proper intervals depending upon the spacing apart of the container engaging lugs. Thus, as each successive lug, or set of lugs, approaches the discharge end of the delivery conveyor, the metering arm will be actuated to release the leading container on the delivery conveyor, thereby discharging it into the path of the advancing lugs. At the same time, the pivoting movement ofthe metering arm causes the pad onits trailing end to ,engage the next adjacent container on the delivery conveyor, thereby preventing it from advancing until .the metering arm has returned to its initial position of use.

The timing conveyor, or other timed container conveying means may in itself serve to advance the container for whatever folding, gluing or like operations are to beperformed, or, the timing conveyor may be a transfer conveyor action to synchronize the movement of the containers with another piece of equipment, such as a rotating turret or the like having container receiving stations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a packaging system utilizing metering means in accordance with the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view ofthe metering means of the instant invention, including the continuously moving containerreceiving means with which it is associated.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the metering means and the associated adjustable container guide.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference is first made to FIG. 1 of the drawings which schematically illustrates the utilization of the invention in conjunction with the alternate station container filling and sealing system disclosed in the aforementioned copending application Ser. No. 70l,782 now U. S. Pat. No. 3,491,508. Flat-folded container blanks which are to be erected, filled, and sealed, are initially deposited in a hopper I which overlies the periphery of a rotatable turret 2 mounted on a supporting base 3. The turret mounts an even number of container receiving stations 4 and 5 arranged in alternate relation, the stations 4 being adapted to receive and erect flat-folded cartonblanks withdrawn from the hopper 1, whereas the stations 5 are adapted to receive filled containers from the transfer conveyor 6.

The container closing and filling apparatus, indicated generally at 7 is provided with a continuous series of carriages 8 and 9 which are also in alternate arrangement, the carriages 8 being adapted to coincide with and receive erected but unclosed containers from the turret stations 4, whereas the carriages 9 are adapted to receive the filled and sealed at one end containers from the turret station 5. In this connection, the turret mountingthe stations 4 and 5 rotates in the direction of the Arrows A, and the sets of carriages. 8 and 9 move in a path of travel indicated by the Arrows B.

As the containers are advanced by the sets of carriages 8 and 9 their uppermost ends will be acted upon by folding and gluing mechanism which closes and seals their end closure flaps. Usually the containers will include tubular liners the mouths of which are also closed, sealed and infolded as an incident of the folding and sealing of the end closure flaps. The containers from both sets of carriages are discharged at a discharge station 10 which deposits the containers on a conveyor 11 along which they are advanced. A timed kicker mechanism 12 permits the unfilled containers to continue in their path of travel along conveyor 11, whereas the filled and sealed containers are contacted by the kicker 12 and pushed onto a discharge conveyor 13 for delivery to a collection station for packing in units for shipment and storage. The unfilled containers remaining on the conveyor 11 are delivered to a filling station 14 at which the contents are introduced into the containers.

Upon discharge from the filling station 14, the now filled containers are deposited on a delivery conveyor 15 which delivers them to the transfer conveyor 6 for return to the container receiving station 5, the containers being collected and metered to the transfer conveyor 6 by means of the metering means 16 which acts to release the containers one at a time in spaced apart relation for engagement by the transfer conveyor. With such arrangement, a single alternate station feed turret 2 and a single closing and sealing apparatus 7 are effec tively utilized to convey the flat-folded containers into completely closed and sealed packages without the duplication of equipment which would otherwise be required.

In accordance with the present invention, the metering means 16 acts to transfer the containers from the delivery conveyor 15 in predetermined timed relation to a moving container receiving means, such as the transfer conveyor 6 which, as best seen in FIG. 2, includes a drive shaft 17 adapted to be driven in timed relation to the rotation of the turret 2. Containers entering the transfer conveyor 6 are advanced along a slide bar 18 by means of an endless chain 19 carrying container engaging lugs 20, the chain passing around sprockets 21 and 22 the latter of which is mounted'on drive shaft 17.

In order to insure that a container will be present to be engaged by each succeeding lug 20, the metering means 16 at the discharge end of the delivery conveyor 15 acts to meter the containers to the transfer conveyor in timed relation to the movement of the container engaging lugs 20. As seen in FIG. 3, the metering means 16 comprises an elongated arm 23 having a finger 24 at one end and a pad 25 at its opposite end, the arm being pivoted at 26 for movement from the position illustrated in solid lines to the position illustrated in dotted lines. Movement of the arm from one position to the other is controlled by pneumatic cylinder 27 operatively connected to the arm 23 by means of the piston rod 28, the arm being normally biased to the position illustrated in dotted lines by means of the spring 29, adjustment of the alternate positions of the arm being obtained by means of adjustable stops 30 and 31.

Actuation of the cylinder 27 is controlled by the switch means 32 seen in FIG. 2, which includes a switch arm 33 mounting a cam follower 34 which contacts cam 35 driven in timed relation to conveyor chain 19 by means of chain 36 and sprocket 37.

With such arrangement, the conveyor 15 need not be driven in timed relation to the transfer conveyor 6, and a plurality of containers may be accumulated on conveyor 15 if so desired. Their advance to the transfer conveyor 6 will, however, be arrested by the finger 24 of the metering means 16. When the finger 24 is retracted upon pivoting movement of the arm 23, the leading container abutting the finger will be released and, by reason of the timing cam 35, the released container will enter the transfer conveyor just in advance of one of the lugs 20 which engages the trailing wall of the container and advances it along the slide bar 18. Retracting movement of the finger 24 to release the leading container on conveyor 15 also serves to thrust the pad 25 at the opposite end of arm 23 forwardly where it engages and clamps the next succeeding container on conveyor 15 against the side guide 38. Thus, the metering means 16 simultaneously releases the leading container and yet positively engages the next succeeding container to prevent the accidental discharge of two containers at the same time. When the arm 23 is released to return the finger 24 to its forward position, as illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 3, the pad 25 will retract and hence the container clamped by the pad will be released and will advance into contact with the finger 24 and hence be positioned for release to the transfer conveyor in timed relation to the approach of the next succeeding lug 20.

In the embodiment illustrated, the containers are advanced by the lugs 20, the containers being supported on slide bar 18 along which they slide between side guides 39 and 40 for delivery to the container receiving station 5 of the turret 2, the transfer conveyor 6 being provided with one or more stop-fingers 41 which act to engage the leading ends of the containers and position them for contact by the clamping plate 42 forming a part of the container receiving station 5. The clamping plate is adapted to engage the trailing wall of a container presented by the transfer conveyor to the turret station 5, the fingers 41 acting to urge the container onto a platform 43 forming a part of the station 5, where the container seats against the support 44 and vacuum head 45 which acts to hold the container in position for subsequent transfer to the appropriate carriage of the container closing and filling apparatus.

While the metering means of the instant invention has been described in conjunction with a transfer conveyor moving in timed relation to a turret, it will be apparent that the metering means of the invention may be operated in timed relation to the movement of other forms of moving container receiving means.

We claim:

1. In a container metering and transferring device, a delivery conveyor for advancing a supply of containers at random in a path of travel, a transfer conveyor having its leading end positioned to receive containers from said delivery conveyor, and a metering means at the trailing end of said delivery conveyor for discharging containers from said delivery conveyor in timed relation to the movement of said transfer conveyor, said metering means comprising an elongated arm mounted on one side of said delivery conveyor and having a finger at one end and a container contacting pad at its opposite end, means pivotally mounting said arm for movement in a horizontal path from a first position wherein said finger engages the leading end of a first container advancing along said delivery conveyor to a second position in which said finger is retracted to free said first container for discharge from said delivery conveyor and said pad engages the next succeeding container on the delivery conveyor to arrest its forward movement, an adjustable side guide mounted on the opposite side of said delivery conveyor in alignment with said pad, whereby said pad acts to clamp the said next succeeding container against said adjustable guide, spring means normally biasing said arm to its said first position, and arm actuating means for moving the arm to its said second position, said transfer conveyor including an endless timing chain mounted on sprockets, said timing chain mounting spaced apart container contacting lugs, cam means operatively connected to one of said sprockets, and cam operated actuating means operatively connected to said arm moving means for moving said arm from its first to its second position in timed relation to the movement of said timing chain.

2. The container transferring device claimed in claim I wherein said metering means includes adjustable stop means for establishing the first and second positions of said arm.

3. The container transferring device claimed in claim 2 wherein said arm moving means comprises a pneumatic cylinder having a piston rod operatively connected to said arm, and wherein said cam operated actuating means comprises a switch means including a switch arm mounting a cam follower in contact with said cam means, said cam means being configured to open and close said switch means in timed relation to the movement of said timing chain. 

1. In a container metering and transferring device, a delivery conveyor for advancing a supply of containers at random in a path of travel, a transfer conveyor having its leading end positioned to receive containers from said delivery conveyor, and a metering means at the trailing end of said delivery conveyor for discharging containers from said delivery conveyor in timed relation to the movement of said transfer conveyor, said metering means comprising an elongated arm mounted on one side of said delivery conveyor and having a finger at one end and a container contacting pad at its opposite end, means pivotally mounting said arm for movement in a horizontal path from a first position wherein said finger engages the leading end of a first container advancing along said delivery conveyor to a second posItion in which said finger is retracted to free said first container for discharge from said delivery conveyor and said pad engages the next succeeding container on the delivery conveyor to arrest its forward movement, an adjustable side guide mounted on the opposite side of said delivery conveyor in alignment with said pad, whereby said pad acts to clamp the said next succeeding container against said adjustable guide, spring means normally biasing said arm to its said first position, and arm actuating means for moving the arm to its said second position, said transfer conveyor including an endless timing chain mounted on sprockets, said timing chain mounting spaced apart container contacting lugs, cam means operatively connected to one of said sprockets, and cam operated actuating means operatively connected to said arm moving means for moving said arm from its first to its second position in timed relation to the movement of said timing chain.
 2. The container transferring device claimed in claim 1 wherein said metering means includes adjustable stop means for establishing the first and second positions of said arm.
 3. The container transferring device claimed in claim 2 wherein said arm moving means comprises a pneumatic cylinder having a piston rod operatively connected to said arm, and wherein said cam operated actuating means comprises a switch means including a switch arm mounting a cam follower in contact with said cam means, said cam means being configured to open and close said switch means in timed relation to the movement of said timing chain. 